Butler Academy Scholars Flourish in Summer Reading Camp

Surpassing the school’s high expectations, 86 percent of Butler Academy’s Summer Reading Camp scholars made significant growth in reading achievement, with many jumping a full grade-level during this year’s program.

“From continuing to connect our school with community partners, to deepening the existing relationships between BA teachers, our scholars and their families, this year’s Summer Reading Camp underscored Butler Academy’s fierce commitment to growth,” said Dr. Jerome Reyes, Butler Academy President. “We are deeply appreciative of everyone who helped make this year’s program a tremendous success.”

“In creating plans for Butler Academy’s 2023 Summer Reading Camp, we built on lessons learned in 2022 and focused fresh effort on studying our data,” explained Dean of Students Caitlin Tochiki.
“Our Summer Reading Camp team, which included director and fifth grade teacher Stella Rounsefell and others, examined every possible detail – from state and national achievement scores, to social and emotional competencies and Individual Education Plans – and designed phonics, comprehension and fluency lessons to meet scholars’ individual needs,” Tochiki said. “Stella and the whole team knocked it out of the park.”

This year, for the first time, Butler Academy also benefited from a competitive grant awarded by the South Carolina Department of Education to enrich its annual Summer Reading Camp. The grant provided financial support that enabled Butler Academy to include community partners in the program. As a result, education students from Coker University and staff from EdVenture Children’s Museum became part of the team.

“Learning takes a village, and we are so grateful for our village,” said Rounsefell.

To celebrate the hard work of scholars and their families, when the camp concluded, Rounsefell invited families to take a walk “on the wild side” with their children on a field trip to Kalmia Gardens.

“It was important to all of us that we made time to celebrate our families too.” Rounsefell added.

About Summer Reading Camp

On June 11, 2014, Governor Haley signed into law Act 284 (Read to Succeed). The purpose of this piece of legislation is to improve literacy rates of the students in South Carolina. One of the many components of Read to Succeed is third grade summer reading camps, which are available to third grade students who are not reading proficiently on grade level and provide them with the opportunity to attend a summer reading camp.

About Butler Academy

Butler Academy, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is a free K-12 public charter school with a mission to create an enthusiastic culture of learning in which every student is expected and positioned to succeed academically. At Butler Academy, our core values inform and guide us in all aspects of what we do—from the classroom and playground to home and throughout the community. Commitment to our BRAVE core values (Belonging, Respect, Accountability, Vision, and Excellence) helps our organization stay united through a common purpose. As an organization that highly values diversity, equity, and inclusion, our learning community is committed to rethinking all education policies and practices through the lens of equity to ensure that all our scholars thrive. Website: www.butleracademy.us.